Ciechanów Castle (Castle of the Dukes of Masovia)

Ciechanów Castle (Zamek Książąt Mazowieckich), the Castle of the Dukes of Masovia, is a Gothic red-brick fortress built in the early 15th century on the Łydynia river. Two massive round towers, walls about 10 m high and a spacious courtyard make it the largest castle in northern Masovia. Inside, a branch of the Museum of the Masovian Nobility presents the history of the duchy. If you want things to do north of Warsaw, this is an easy day trip.

Where it is and how to say it

Ciechanów (tchee-HAH-noof) lies about 75 km as the crow flies north of Warsaw, the nearest big city and airport. You can get here by train or bus from Warsaw, and the castle is a short walk from the center. Prices are in zloty (PLN). The castle offers audio guides with English translation.

A short history

The castle was built between 1399 and 1429 by Janusz I the Elder, Duke of Masovia. Tree-ring dating of the oak piles under the foundations shows the trees were felled in late 1399 or early winter 1399/1400. The ground is marshy, so the builders reinforced it with gravel, brick and hundreds of oak trunks. The first written mention is from 1429.

After the last Masovian duke, Janusz III, died, the castle came to Queen Bona, wife of Sigismund the Old, as part of her dowry; an inventory of 1580 already called it a ruin. The main residential building was pulled down in the first half of the 17th century and wars did the rest. During the Second World War the Germans carried out executions in the courtyard; on 17 December 1942 four Home Army soldiers were hanged here. A partial reconstruction took place in 1979-1986.

What to see

• A regular quadrangle of about 48 by 57 m with walls around 10 m high.
• Two towers facing the river: the western "arsenal" and the eastern "prison" tower.
• Exhibitions in a modern pavilion in the courtyard: "Facts and Myths of Ciechanów Castle" and "Duchy of Masovia 1200-1526".
• The courtyard, which you can enter free during opening hours; tickets are needed for the exhibitions.

The glass-and-concrete pavilion is controversial because it contrasts with the medieval character of the castle, but it keeps the exhibitions open all year.

How long to allow

Plan 1 to 1.5 hours for the courtyard, exhibitions and a walk around the walls. Individual visits start on the hour. Leave backpacks in the ticket office cloakroom. Dogs are not allowed (except guide dogs), and you may climb walls and towers only along the marked route. A park along the Łydynia surrounds the castle.

Opening hours and tickets (as of October 2026)

• September to May: open 8:00-16:00 (individual visits on the hour, 9:00-15:00 according to the castle page).
• June to August: 10:00-18:00 (individual visits 11:00-17:00).
• Closed on Mondays and on 1 and 6 January, Easter Sunday, Corpus Christi, 15 August, 1 November and 25 December.
• Last entry 30 minutes before closing.
• Standard ticket 15 PLN, reduced 10 PLN, organized group 10 PLN each, family (2 adults + 3 children) 50 PLN, museum guide 50 PLN. Large Family Card holders get 50% off.
• Thursday: free entry for individual visitors (collect a free ticket at the desk). Children under 7 are free.
• Phone: +48 23 672 40 64.

Getting there

The castle is at ul. Zamkowa 1. The website does not mention parking, so ask by phone if you drive. Is it worth visiting? Yes, for the brickwork, the river setting and the exhibitions on Masovian history.

Nearby

Opinogóra, with the Krasiński neo-Gothic castle and the Romanticism Museum, is a short drive away.